Chances and Changes: My Journey with Molly

I thank Molly and Linda for taking me to see the horses. I tell them that I love this Camp Gowonagin tradition. But I also love my traditions with Bea. I remind them how Bea’s horse had a foal this morning. I tell them that we named him Moon Shadow. And this foal has a moon shadow, too! I tell them it’s time for me to go home. I don’t want to miss a single minute of watching my little Moon Shadow grow up.

Molly says that sometimes her dad says the worst thing about the war is that it robbed him of watching his children grow up. Nothing can give their family back those years together. I tell Molly that it’s no wonder he wants to spend as much time with her as he can. I tell Molly that he will love that fishing trip with her no matter whether she jumps out of the boat or not.

And Linda says that I’m right about going home. If she had the chance to spend time with a newborn foal, she would take it.

We go back to the tent and I wait for Molly and Linda to fall asleep. Then, I write a note. I thank Molly and Linda for being so nice to me. I tell them that I will never forget them and we will always be buddies. And, since Molly taught me how to speak my mind, I tell her that Linda is a great swimmer. After all, she’s part fish. Linda can be her Buddy Board buddy now and help her learn how to swim underwater and dive. And of course, I tell them goodbye.

I tiptoe noiselessly out of the tent and rub my pin. After the sound of rushing wind, I’m plunged into darkness and then surrounded again by sunshine. I’m sitting on the wooden steps in the woods where my adventure started. But before I go home, I walk the familiar route to Bea’s family farm.

Bea is in the barn with Aurora and Moon Shadow. She tells me that she’s sorry she didn’t come over for waffles. It takes me a moment to remember that the last time I saw Bea was when I was heading home for waffles. A lot has happened since then.

I tell Bea that that’s okay. Bea grins and asks if I missed Moon Shadow. I tell her that I did. And I realized how much I’d miss our summer traditions if I went away to camp. Bea nods and says she would miss me, too. But she’s been thinking about what Gem said, and eight weeks is not forever. Not when it’s a great chance for me to do something I love.

Wait. Is Bea saying I should go to music camp? Has she changed her mind? And what about me? Do I want to stay home, or do I want to go to music camp?